10 of the world's most underrated cities

By Jini Reddy, for CNN

Updated 4:55 PM ET, Thu May 29, 2014

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Queens, New York – It might lack the glamour of Manhattan, but it's still one of the most diverse places on the globe. "Queens is definitely overlooked ... I'm glad that it's not nearly as visited ... as Manhattan or Brooklyn. I'd like it to stay as is," says CNN commenter BuildingMyBento.

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Bergen, Norway – Surrounded by mountains and the gateway to the Norwegian fjords, this pretty city on Norway's west coast is the ideal destination for cruise fans and nature lovers.

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San Juan, Puerto Rico – From chic new hotels to nightspots, boutiques, dance venues (salsa rules here) and art galleries, urban sophisticates will find much to whet their appetites in San Juan.

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Darwin, Australia – Darwin is often overlooked in favor of Sydney, but should it be? The city's Mindil Beach has some great open-air markets, superb food stalls and live music, and the city hosted the 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, with teams competing in a 3,000-kilometer solar-powered vehicle race between Darwin and Adelaide.

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Isfahan, Iran – Isfahan is one of Iran's great treasures, breathtakingly elegant, located at the foot of the Zagros mountains. Romantics should try a walk along Zayandeh River to the beautiful Khaju Bridge (pictured).

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Lisbon, Portugal – Lisbon is full of character and flanked by beautiful, un-crowded beaches, making it a good alternative to the touristy Algarve.

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Glasgow, Scotland – Glasgow arguably has the best music scene in Britain after London, great activities for families, including the Science Centre and the collections of curios at the Zaha Hadid-designed Riverside Museum and also has some of the UK's best shopping.

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Hoi An, Vietnam – It's not technically a city, but this seaside heritage spot on Vietnam's central coast is such an enchanting contrast to hectic Hanoi that it's worth a mention. Best parts -- its historic architecture and fantastic street eats.

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Calgary, Canada – Canada's gateway to the Rockies is often viewed as little more than an airport pick-up point. But it's special, with a cowboy heritage all its own, one of North America's best-loved and biggest rodeos (the Calgary Stampede) and Canada's largest museum, the Glenbow.

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Durban, South Africa – With year-round sunshine, a vibrant, cosmopolitan vibe and the beautiful -- and beautifully named -- Hare Krishna Temple of Understanding, what's not to love?

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Story highlights

Queens in NYC has a vibrant culture and many great attractions, but is often overlooked in favor of Manhattan

Australia's Darwin loses out to Sydney and Melbourne, but has a strong Aboriginal history and great markets

Lisbon in Portugal is rarely a top-of-mind Euro destination, but is worth a trip for the Calouste Gulbenkian museum and its famed egg tarts

Perhaps because of their proximity to better-known locales, travelers too often neglect legitimately interesting cities.

Call us sentimental, but it's an oversight we want to correct.

These places are livable, creative hubs, championed by locals, worth more than a quick stop before you head elsewhere.

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OK, officially it's a part of NYC, but this borough has a population of 2.3 million and virtually qualifies as a city in itself.

It might lack the glamour of Manhattan, but it's still one of the most diverse places on the globe.

"Queens is definitely overlooked ... I'm glad that it's not nearly as visited (save for it being the location of two major airports) as Manhattan or Brooklyn. I'd like it to stay as is ..." says CNN commenter BuildingMyBento.

More than 170 languages and dialects are spoken in the borough -- residents say it's like going around the world without ever leaving.

First stop? Jackson Heights gives a sub-continental vibe. It's the place for saris and gold jewelry and South Asian restaurants.

Then there's Flushing, home to the U.S. Open Tennis Championships as well as the second largest Chinatown in New York, and Jamaica, with its jazz heritage.

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Given Puerto Rico's stunning beaches and coastal highlights, including the Bioluminescent (phosphorescent) Bays and El Yunque Rainforest, people sometimes assume the capital doesn't have much to offer.

They're wrong.

There's the dramatic El Morro Fortress, high above the sea, and the cobbled streets of Old San Juan, with their 16th- and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings.

But the city is also in the throes of a revival.

From chic new hotels to nightspots, boutiques, dance venues (salsa rules here) and art galleries, urban sophisticates will find much to whet their appetites.

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In the shadow of big sibling Sydney, Darwin is a balmy, tropical city, with a relaxed vibe.

It's just four hours by air from Singapore, and two from Bali.

Of course, there's no pleasing some people.

"Darwin??!?! Really??! I grew up there and couldn't wait to leave! I now reside in Melbourne and nothing could drag me back!" spits CNN commenter Prasad Gunatunga.

But for others, the likes of Robbie Mills, a traditional Larrakia guide (his people are the traditional owners of Darwin) who offers cultural walking tours along the city's esplanade, make it a worthwhile stop.

You'll learn about aboriginal history and culture, bush tucker and plants.

Mindil Beach has some great open-air markets, open from April to October, from sunset till late.

Iran can be romantic -- try a walk along Zayandeh river to the beautiful Khaju bridge.

Isfahan is one of Iran's great treasures, breathtakingly elegant, located at the foot of the Zagros mountains.

Its star attraction is Imam Square.

It's one of the world's largest, dominated by the Imam Mosque complex, which twists toward Mecca, though it's the smaller Sheik Lotfollah mosque with its stunning dome that stuns visitors.

The covered bazaar, just off the square, is great for miniatures and decorative tiles and chaikhanas, or teahouses, offering fresh brews and flavored shisha pipes.

After dark belongs to the courtyard café and tearoom at the Abbasi, a five-star hotel and former caravanserai. It's a magnet for city's professionals, who are eager to practice their English on the all-too-rare tourists in their midst.

Final mention must go to the Zayandeh River and its exquisitely pretty, arched Khaju Bridge (pictured in gallery).

When it comes to European cities, tourists usually look to Paris or Rome.

Or London or Amsterdam or Barcelona or Prague or ... you get the picture.

Lisbon deserves a look-in.

It's full of character and flanked by beautiful, un-crowded beaches, making it a good alternative to the touristy Algarve.

The city is home to the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, one of the world's great (largely unsung) museums, housing a collection of Egyptian, Green, Roman, Islamic, Asian and European art and the Belem Tower, a city landmark.

Portugal is renowned for the sweet, soft eggy confection known as Pasteis de Nata.

Travelers who make the journey north from England most often head to the Scottish capital Edinburgh.

Glasgow, however, arguably has the best music scene in Britain (Londoners will dispute this) with scores of clubs and concert halls, including the much raved-about Barrowland Ballroom, which hosts all sorts of acts -- large, cool and up-and-coming.

There's a lot more to do here.

For families, there's the Science Centre and the collections of curios at the Zaha Hadid-designed Riverside Museum -- it has everything from children's toys to motorbikes.

The city has some of the UK's best shopping outside of London.

For designer goods there's Princes Square, while the Willow Tearooms, designed by influential Scottish architect, designer and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh provides a great cuppa.